20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 786: The Old String Red Fate Ends and Dies

In about half an incense stick of time, Jiang Lianheng cut off three heads. Then he stripped the robbers of their cotton robes, wrapped the heads in them, lifted them up, and returned on the snow the same way he came.

He returned to the foreign company's shop, hid the head package in the corner, grabbed a few handfuls of snow, wiped the blood off his hands, and then walked over and knocked on the door.

Hai Xinnian pushed the door open and greeted him. He didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly stepped aside to let his adoptive father in.

The inside of the store remained the same as before. There were no lights on in the front hall, and only a thin ray of light in the back room, which was dim and misty.

Jiang Lianheng returned the two daggers to Xinnian and brushed off the remaining snow on his shoulders.

Hai Xinnian took the dagger and gently scraped the blade twice with his thumb. He felt it was blunt, but the tip was intact. He already had a rough idea in his mind.

He silently put away the knife and continued to follow his father's teachings. If his adoptive father didn't say anything, he wouldn't ask.

Jiang Lianheng had no intention of explaining. When he was about to ask about Xu Ruqing's condition, he saw Mrs. Emerson coming out from the back room.

"Where have you been?" she asked. "I was just looking for you!"

"Nothing, just going to see if there is a clinic nearby."

"Didn't I just tell you that there is no hospital nearby? The city is too dangerous right now. You shouldn't go out."

Jiang Lianheng made a few excuses and then asked, "Don't worry about me for now. How is the old lady? Can she be saved?"

Mrs. Emerson shook her head and sighed, "We have tried our best. Although the bullet did not hit the vital part, you know, she is not young anymore, and she has lost so much blood——"

"Has the person left already?"

"Leave? What do you mean?"

Jiang Lianheng thought for a moment and had to speak more bluntly, so he asked again: "Old lady... is she still alive now?"

"Oh, she is in a deep coma now." Mrs. Emerson understood and explained quickly, "But don't worry, she is not in pain. I just injected her with a strong anesthesia."

At this point, she suddenly paused, a hint of compassion flashed in her eyes, and then continued: "Sir, I suggest you don't leave casually. You should stay and accompany her well. I'm afraid she doesn't have much time left."

Jiang Lianheng lowered his eyes silently after hearing this. Somehow, he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

After calming down for a moment, he asked, "Can I go see the old lady now?"

"Of course!" Mrs. Emerson turned around and led Jiang Lianheng and Hai Xinnian to the back room, "Please follow me!"

The lights were dimmed in the room. Emerson was packing up the medicine box at the table, gathering the cotton balls soaked in blood, and putting away the bottles and jars whose names he couldn't understand. He looked up and saw Jiang Lianheng, so he stopped, spread his hands helplessly, and said, "Sir, I'm sorry."

Jiang Lianheng noticed that the gold and silver banknotes on the table had not been touched. He felt a little emotional, but he did not try to be humble anymore and walked straight towards Xu Ruqing.

Perhaps, Nanfeng was right, not all foreigners were bad people.

Regardless of other things, just talking about hospitals, from Beijing and Tianjin to Shanghai, and then to Guangzhou, when many modern hospitals across the country were first built, the church was involved.

At least, the foreign couple in front of him did look like devout believers.

Xu Ruqing was still lying on the table.

Under the dim light, the old lady's shoulders were wrapped tightly with gauze. Her face was extremely pale and almost bloodless, but her expression seemed exceptionally serene and calm.

Jiang Lianheng walked over, leaned over, and whispered in Xu Ruqing's ear: "Aunt?"

There was no response. The old lady looked like she was sleeping soundly, as if it was all a dream.

"Can she wake up?" Jiang Lianheng turned around and asked.

Mrs. Emerson did not answer directly, but said: "Hemorrhagic shock. In order to relieve her pain, I injected her with anesthetics... I will pray for her. Maybe God will perform a miracle."

Jiang Lianheng ignored him and asked, "Can she still hear me?"

"Maybe!" Mrs. Emerson was not sure, "but God can always hear what you want to say to her, I am sure!"

At this time, Emerson suddenly took over the conversation and had a brief exchange with his wife in foreign language.

Then, Mrs. Emerson said, "Sir, I think you may need some private space, but there is no bedroom here, only a simple office. If you need, I can take you there and let you be alone for a while."

"That would be better, of course, but..."

Jiang Lianheng was a little hesitant. After all, Xu Ruqing was already a dying man, and he was afraid that outsiders would think he was unlucky.

Mrs. Emerson dismissed his concerns and smiled, "No problem, she will be laid to rest, just like all of us."

Since the store owner said so, Jiang Lianheng naturally stopped being polite. He immediately picked up Xu Ruqing and slowly left the restaurant with the foreign couple.

Several people walked through the corridor, came to the corner, and pushed the door into an office.

The interior area is not large and the decoration is very simple. Apart from the table and chairs, there is only a wall of bookshelves.

Near the windowsill, there was a rattan rocking chair covered with a blanket. Jiang Lianheng gently put the old lady down.

Xu Ruqing still had no reaction, and it seemed that only the faint rise and fall of his chest could prove that his loved one had not yet returned.

Emerson walked to the window, looked out nervously, and turned to remind him, "Damn it, it's too dangerous outside now. The consulate asked us expatriates to stay in a safe place as much as possible. I suggest you don't turn on the lights."

Jiang Lianheng nodded and said, "Thank you very much."

"Would you like some whiskey?" Emerson asked again. "Or brandy or something like that? It would be good for you!"

"No need to bother," Jiang Lianheng turned around and looked at the foreign couple, then raised his hand and pointed at Hai Xinnian, "I want to say a few words to him and ask him to help me do something."

Mr. and Mrs. Emerson looked at each other and said consciously, "Well, we'll be outside. If you need anything, you can always come to us."

After saying that, they turned and left one after another.

After the door was closed, Hai Xinnian came over and asked, "Godfather, what can I do for you?"

Jiang Lianheng lowered his voice and said, "Xinnian, when you go out later, there is a bundle in the snow pile on the left corner outside the store. Inside is three human heads. Take it back to the mansion in the north of the city and find a place to hide the bundle of human heads. I will need this evidence after this storm has passed."

Hai Xinnian quickly agreed, then glanced at Xu Ruqing, and then asked: "Godfather, my aunt...do we need to call a few people to take my aunt back?"

"If your home is safe, let Lao Yuan bring two people over!"

"What if the house is not safe?"

Hai Xinnian’s concerns are not without reason.

Since someone was able to intercept the Jiang family's convoy on the way, someone would surely take this opportunity to smash the Jiang family's mansion.

Faced with internal and external troubles and being attacked from all sides, this is probably the most critical situation Jiang Lianheng has encountered since he set up shop.

The Jiang family's backing is crumbling, the Jiang family's eyes and ears are suddenly out of service, the current situation is complicated and it is difficult to make sense of it.

After thinking for a while, Jiang Lianheng ordered: "If someone smashes the kiln in the mansion, you should go to the outer house of the south city, hide the bag as usual, protect your third mother, fourth mother, and the youngest child in my family, and stay there and wait for news."

Hai Xinnian was about to agree, but then he suddenly remembered something and asked hurriedly, "Godfather, what are you going to do?"

"I'll accompany the old lady on her last journey." "But Mr. Zhao and Uncle San will definitely look for you everywhere!"

Hai Xinnian continued, "Godfather, if you don't go back to the South Railway Concession, Godmother won't feel at ease. And if I leave you here alone, what if something goes wrong? How can I explain it to Godmother?"

Jiang Lianheng also knew this very well, but after looking at Xu Ruqing, he shook his head and said, "No, I have to accompany the old lady."

After a moment of silence, he continued, "How about this! If the mansion is safe, you can ask Old Yuan to send someone smart and agile to sneak back to the South Railway Concession and tell your godmother and the others; if the outer house is safe, you can ask Yang Lazi to go and tell them! Xiao Dongyang arranged for me to live in the South Railway Hotel, remember that!"

"That's fine!" Hai Xinnian nodded and said, "Godfather, be careful then!"

Jiang Lianheng didn't care at all, but said: "Don't worry! I feel a lot more relaxed here, and it's convenient for me to come and go!"

Hai Xinnian responded, "Godfather, I'll leave first then."

"Wait!" Jiang Lianheng called him.

"what happened?"

"New Year, you can only tell four people that I'm here: Guoyan, Xifeng, Lao Yuan, and Yang Lazi! If anyone else asks you, just say you didn't see it!"

Hai Xinnian was stunned, scratched his head, and asked, "What about Uncle Dong and Second Uncle?"

Jiang Lianheng waved his hand and said, "They must stay in the South Railway Concession to look after your godmother. The city is in such a mess right now, and Shopkeeper Xue is a woman after all, so she won't come out."

Hai Xinnian nodded in relief: "Godfather, I'm leaving now."

"Go quickly, and be smart on the road!"

Hai Xinnian responded and turned to open the door. His hand was in the air when he suddenly stopped, turned around to look, then walked around Jiang Lianheng and quickly walked to Xu Ruqing who was lying on the rattan chair. He knelt on his knees and kowtowed three times.

"Auntie, I have something to do during the New Year so I'm leaving first. Please take care of yourself!"

After saying that, he stood up, bowed again, looked at his adoptive father Jiang Lianheng, nodded heavily, and finally strode away.

After Hai Xinnian left, he heard the Emerson couple talking to him outside the door, as if they were persuading him not to go out. However, Hai Xinnian was determined to obey his father's orders and would not allow others to persuade him. After thanking them again and again, he finally pushed the door and left the foreign company store.

The room suddenly became quiet, so quiet that only Xu Ruqing's faint breathing could be heard.

Jiang Lianheng moved a chair over, sat next to the old lady, covered her with a blanket, straightened her gray hair, and called softly:
"Aunt, I'll accompany you to rest for a while."

Xu Ruqing still didn't respond.

The aunt and niece sat in the dim room, facing the window, looking at the heavy snow falling from the sky, without saying a word to each other.

It’s snowing so heavily!

When Jiang Lianheng was outside, he felt the world spinning and the wind was slashing, but now he felt the world was white and peaceful...

Recalling the past, every scene, bit by bit, flashes through my mind like slides.

He still vividly remembered the first time he met his aunt. Not only did he remember it, but he remembered it vividly, as if it happened just yesterday.

At that time, we had just arrived in Fengtian from Liaoyang.

At that time, several uncles were still around, and the brothers were in high spirits, drinking and chatting; behind closed doors, they laughed and joked; when they showed themselves in public, they were intimidating without even getting angry.

At that time, Xu Ruqing was also charming and well-mannered. She listened to everyone's nonsense and listened very seriously, laughing when she should laugh, being surprised when she should be surprised, and sighing when she should sigh...

'Aunt!'

"You are Xiao Dao, right?"

'Aunt, do you know me?'

"I know, I know. I heard you're quite naughty and got into trouble a lot, right?"

The more the past is in my mind, the more I relive and recall it scene by scene.

Xu Ruqing led Tan Renjun and Liu Yansheng to Jiang's house.

"Jiang... Lian Heng! Yes, giving a son a thousand gold coins is not as good as teaching him a skill, and teaching him a skill is not as good as giving him a name. Thank you, Mr. Tan!"

Xu Ruqing picked up Jiang Ya for the first time and looked at the young couple with a smile.

'Xiaodao, now you're a father, come and see your precious girl!'

Aunt is also mother.

With parents there, there is still a place in life; without parents, there is only a way back in life.

In this world, things come and go, and people gather and separate. Some people who are apparently unrelated to each other, yet because of their meeting on a stranger's path, have added a close relationship.

Looking up, I saw heavy snow falling outside the window, just like scattered jade, representing the pure and innocent world.

Jiang Lianheng slowly took Xu Ruqing's hand, which was icy cold, and then leaned over to her ear and whispered softly, "Aunt, you've worked hard too."

Maybe it was true, or maybe it was just an illusion caused by the shadow of the snow outside the window cast on her face. Xu Ruqing seemed to nod with a slight smile.

Alas, my eyes, everything I see is blurry!
From now on, if the aunt and niece ever meet, it will be through their memories.

A knock on the door suddenly interrupted the grief. Jiang Lianheng responded and invited someone in. It was Mrs. Emerson.

She changed into a very plain dress and held a black-leather, gold-embossed book in her arms with a cross on it. It looked like the Bible without a doubt.

"Sir, I'm sorry to bother you, but there may be something I can do for her."

"Thanks for your kindness, but forget it!"

Mrs. Emerson was not discouraged. She still insisted on coming over. Like all devout believers, she bent down and whispered, "Sir, I can pray and confess for her. In this way, her soul can be at peace and rest."

Jiang Lianheng looked at the cross in her hand, then looked at Xu Ruqing lying on the rattan chair, then shook his head and rejected Emerson's kindness.

"No, no need."

"Are you sure?"

Jiang Lianheng looked at Xu Ruqing, feeling the gradually disappearing body temperature of his aunt, nodded firmly, and said: "I am sure that she has nothing to repent for, and she does not need anyone to forgive or pardon her. She has paid it all back."

Hearing this, Mrs. Emerson had no choice but to get up and leave quietly.

Jiang Lianheng stopped talking and just sat quietly by the window, accompanying Xu Ruqing on her last journey. Even if he had a thousand words to say, they were stuck in his heart and he couldn't say them at this moment...

It is exactly:
The wind makes my frosty hair recall the past, half a life of fame and half a life of madness.

It is not my will to end up in the martial world, my brows bear a false smile while my bones feel cold.

When the calamities are over, the fate has come true; when the sea of ​​karma is calm, the debt has been paid.

If I could have such a pure life, the returning boat would be illuminated by the moon in the river.

(End of this chapter)